Seanna Sharpe on the art of the death-defying stunt

3 December 2012 Last updated at 04:45 GMT

When Seanna Sharpe performed an illegal acrobatic display on the Williamsburg Bridge in New York last year, she felt as if she was flying.

Dangling 285ft (87m) above the rush-hour traffic and trains, the 15-minute show amazed onlookers, reminding New Yorkers of Philippe Petit's unauthorised tightrope walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in 1974.

Once back on the ground, however, the "aerialist" - a performer who is part acrobat, part dancer - was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment. The charges were later reduced to trespassing on a public bridge.

Sharpe, who joined the circus at 16 and is now aged 25, talked to the BBC about the illegal stunt and why she was prepared to risk her life to feel the sensation of flying.

Produced by Anna Bressanin; camera by Ilya Shnitser

Bridge footage by Ronenv.com; music by Johnny Arco; facilities courtesy of Julio Mora and OM Factory.